Rev 19: 11-21
Here John sees a rider on a white horse. The rider is described in several ways:
1. He is called Faithful and True. Well the only one (who is or was human or has human form at least) is Christ. This is clearly Christ.
2. "His eyes are like a flame of fire." I don't know know what this means exactly but it seems to be a reference to Christ's omniscence. His ability to see the heart and its intentions. See Rev 1:14.
3. He has many diadems on His head, which I think is simply a symbol of Christs authority to reign over all the earth.
4. "He has a name written that no one knows but himself." I have no idea about this one but the ESV study bible says that Christ can never be fully known, that His being is a divine mystery. Though I don't think God withold any mystery regarding Himself from us when we are in His presence in the end.
5. His robe is dipped in blood. A reference to his sacrifice on the cross.
6. He is called "The Word of God." This is also a clarification of the rider being Christ. Recall John 1:1, speaking of the Word being with God and being God, then in John 1:14 the Word becomes flesh, and that is Christ.
So thats who the rider is, Christ. Now what is He going to do?. Well He is in a robe, which isn't armor by any means, yet He came to wage war! At least He brought an army right? But this army is clothed in linen, granted the linen is white and pure, but certainly now warrior material. But thats the thing, unlike our cultural white flag, back then white was a color for victory. The battle was already won by Christ's presence. What he brought was teh sharp sword that came from His mouth and the iron rod with which he would rule. I'm inclined to believe that this sword is the same that Christ used against the pharisees, from His mouth comes the word of God! And we know that the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword (Heb 4:12). The rod is what Christ uses to strike down nations, and indeed they are all His. One other thing He will do is walk on the winepress of the fury and wrath of God. Remember the winepress? where the non-Christians will be crushed until the blood flows as high as a horses bridle? Ya, Christ is gonna be the one stomping on those grapes! A final identifier is the name written on the riders robe and thigh, "King of kings and Lord of lords." This is a title that no one else has or will ever have.
So now the enemy. An angel calls all the local birds to eat up the flesh of the defeated beast and kings and all who fought against Christ. The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, captured but not killed. They are thrown in alive. I don't know the practical ramifications of this but lets just imagine, dying and then having your body burned as oppossed to just skipping the dying step and burning alive. Ya being killed first would probably be easier. The rest were killed and the birds ate them up.
What I realize: Thank goodness I'm on Christ's side. There was no battle. In verse 19 it says the beast and his army gathered to make war. Then in verse 20, the very next sentence, the beast and prophet are captured and thrown in the lake and everyone else is killed. Dang, I don't think i could beat up a kid that fast you know? Not that I would beat up a kid..... bad example..... Okay, I have a harder time killing some bugs than Christ had conquering His enemies. Better? Goodness I'm delerious haha.
I stinkin love retreat!!!!! Need to sleep now and be awake for tomorrow's session on joy. I'll try to blog a bit about affections and the greatness of the rebuke that I've received this weekend. I love it! ^^
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